For the last 28 years, ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, has been able to operate to a large degree because of its volunteers, who tirelessly offer their services in the cause of a common goal. This goal connects cultures and nations, and all together they can – and do – make a difference. Every year, approximately 500 volunteers from all over the world work at the Research Stations on Zakynthos, Kyparissia, Koroni, Gytheio, Chania, Rethymno, Messara and the Rescue Centre in Glyfada.

On 26 May, at the 36th OTE Employeesʼ Cultural Association Conference in Zakynthos, ARCHELON was awarded a plaque for their contributions to the protection of Caretta caretta and to volunteerism. The award was presented to the Coordinator of the Zakynthos programme, Smaro Touliatou.

The Conference, which is held in a different city every year, took place for the first time on the island of Zakynthos, and the theme was ʽVolunteerism is Culture.ʼ

ʽThe principles, values ​​and ideals of volunteerism are elements that improve and promote the human spirit, cooperation and teamwork. It combines the love of an amateur, the efficacy of the professional, the discipline of the soldier and the selflessness of the superior man.ʼ (Christina Nikoletou, Secretary of the OTE Employeesʼ Cultural Association)

During a pleasant ceremony at the Zakynthian Cultural Centre, with Zakynthian music played in the background, awards were also presented to director and script writer Tony Lykouresis, president of the Special Olympics Ms. Despotopoulou, Zakynthian paraolympic athlete Aristotelis Marinos and Gerasimos Guftakis from the Zakynthian Volunteer Emergency Services Team. Professors Yiannis Kopanas and Giorgos Antonopoulos also received an award for their contributions to the field of seismology, followed by an OTE employee from Thessaloniki previously a member of a rescue team which went to Haiti.

ARCHELON warmly thanks the OTE Employeesʼ Cultural Association for the honor which they bestowed on us, and also to the hundreds of volunteers who have taken part in our programmes since 1983. In their own special way, each has contributed to the protection of the environment and the enhancement of volunteerism in Greece.

Translation by Joanne Stournara